The family of Keith Lamont Scott, the man shot and killed in September by police in Charlotte, North Carolina, met with prosecutors Wednesday morning and learned that no charges will be filed against the officer who fired the fatal shot.
Family attorneys announced after the meeting that district attorney Andrew Murray told them Charlotte-Mecklenberg police Officer Brentley Vinson would not be charged.
Murray confirmed that during a news conference at his office and said Vinson acted lawfully.
He told reporters that his meeting with Scott's family was difficult.
"The family was extremely gracious and wanted to go through the facts of the case," Murray said. "It was a difficult conversation."
The district attorney went on to say that state investigators put more than 2,300 hours into the investigation. He urged the community to read the full report on the investigation, which will be available online later Wednesday afternoon.
"I know that some in the community will be frustrated," Murray said. "But I'm asking, we should not jump to conclusions ... this community needs closure."
Murray spent nearly an hour meticulously going over each detail in the investigation, and revealed new information to the public.
He described false claims made by witnesses and said many of them didn't see the shooting and that some were even inside at the time of the shooting. Scott's widow told investigators he did not own a gun but Murray said text messages between them show otherwise.
"A month before the shooting there were text messages between Mr. and Mrs. Scott arguing about a gun," he said.
Claims that an officer other than Vinson shot Scott were false, Murray said, and Vinson took responsibility for the shooting.
An attorney for Scott's family on Tuesday told WSOCTV that the family's meeting with authorities was eagerly awaited.
Attorney Charles Monney was unaware of evidence prosecutors might have beyond what has been released to the public.
The public videos include cellphone video shot by Scott's widow the showed the moments leading up the shooting, police body-camera video and dash-camera video. Photos have also been released of a gun, gun holster and marijuana blunt.
"It's going to be another difficult day for them, regardless of which way the decision is," Monnett said. "It's a tough situation, and it's going to remain a tough situation for a very long time."
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